Rotary engine



(No Model.)

G. H. WESTON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 392,653. Patented Nov. 13, 1888 E5555, ;%-@&%

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Parana Orrrcni GEORGE H. l/VESTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY ENGENE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,653, dated November 13, 1888. Application filed January 3, 1888. Serial No. 259.620. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE H. Wns'roN, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachw setts, have invented an Improvement in R0- tary Engines, of which. the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to steam-engines of that class known as rotary engines, it having for its object to providearotary steam-engine capable of running at a substantially high speed, my improved engine, among other things, being particularly adapted for driving centrifugal machines.

My invention consists, essentially, of novel features of construction, as will be hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a central transverse section of my improved engine on line 1 3 Fig. 2, the shafts a a being partially in section; Fig. 2, a section of Fig. 1 on line war,- Fig. 3, a detail to be referred to, and Fig. 4 a modification to be referred to.

The shell or case A, constituting the main f rame-work of my improved engine, has bolted or otherwise secured to it a plate, a, forming a removable cover for the said case.

The case A has preferably cast integral with it two hubs, ca' extended into and outside of the said case. The huba has extended through it from inside of the case a shaft, a", of an abutment or cylinder, a preferably made as shown to insure lightness and speed, and the hub a forms bearings for the shaft or rod 64 of a valve, a, herein shown as hollow and open at one end, and having its open end, as herein shown, fitted into a groove in thecap a, (see Fig. 1,) the said groove being rendered steamtight, as shown, by the packingring a The abutment or cylinder a is provided with a re entrant portion, b, (see Fig. 2,) to form a recess or chamber, 1), into which a pistonarm, b", on the hollow piston-valve is adapted to enter, as will be described. The piston-valve a is provided with an outlet-port, b preferably extended the length of the said pistonvalve.

The piston-valvc a has extended into its open end a segmental arm, 0*, herein shown as part of the cap a, the said arm in the operation of the engine forming part of the cut-off mechanism, which is herein shown as an arm or extension, I), of a sleeve, b, supported by a hub, b on the plate or cap a, the said sleeve being open at its ends and provided with a cross head or bar, 0, at its outer end, from which is extended a shaft or arbor, c, the said shaft being extended through and supported, as shown, by a dome-shaped cap, 0", herein shown as screwed upon the hub 0 The dome 0 of the dome-shaped cap referred to is provided with a steaminlehc. (Shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1.)

The shaft 0 outside the dome is provided with a crank, 0 by which the position of the cut-off may be changed to obtain greater or less steam-expansion, as desired.

The shaft c has mounted upon it, as shown in Fig. 1, a gear, (1, in mesh with a gear, (1, on the shaft a the gear (2 having, as shown, a hub, d, to which is attached or cast integral therewith, as shown, a balance-wheel, d".

In the operation of my improved rotary engine steam is admitted into the piston-valve through the inlet 0" and passes out therefrom through the port 11 As shown in Fig. 2, the port I) is partly uncovered and the steam issues therefrom into the triangular-shaped pocket or space 13, formed by the valve a, cylinder or abutment a and pistonarm b, the said steam being prevented from escaping beyond the piston-arm b by the spring at, as shown; but it may be by any suitable packing. The steam admitted into the pocket B acts upon the arm 6 and rotates the pistonvalve in direction of arrow 20, the said valve, through the gears d d, imparting rotation to the cylinder or abutment in the opposite direction, as indicated by arrow 21. As the piston-valve and cylinder are thus rotated the pocket 13 continues to increase in size, it retaining substantially its triangular shape, until the arm b and spring at on the abutment reach the point 25 of the case or frame, and thereafter the said case forms part of the said steam pocket or space, the said spring bearing against the arm 6 as shown, and constituting a packing by which the steam is prevented fromescaping from the pocket B. Live steam continues to issue from the valve through the port 1) into the steam pocket or space referred to until the said port in the rotation of the valve passes and is closed by the cutoff c, after which the steam, by its expansive force, completes the rotation of the piston-valve. The expanded steam is permitted to escapeinto the exhaustpassage d made in the ease or frame and communicating with the exhaust-pipe 61 as the arm b passes by or uncovers said exhaust-passage.

Instead of the gears d d, I may employ sprocket-wheels c c and rotate them in opposite directions by a sprocket chain or belt, c", passed about the wheel a, and an auxiliary wheel, 0 the said chain or belt passing under and being kept in contact with the wheel 0, as shown, by the spring-actuatedlever 0'. (See Fig. 4.)

To prevent steam from escaping through lhe bearings of the shafts a a packing-rings ff are provided for the abutment or cylinder and piston-valve, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the case or frame A is provided with steam-ventsf f around the hubs a (L to permit steam, which may have escaped by the packing-rings referred to, to escape from the engine without passing through the bearings, thus allowing the said bearings to be kept well lubricated w ith oil fed to the bearings through the ducts It will be noticed that when the valve is about to open or is but partially opened the amount of clearance, which is the chamber B, is very small or substantially nothing, thus economizing steam.

If it is desired to cut off the admission of steam to the piston at a quarter or other desired portion of the rotation of the valve, the cut-off sleeve b will be moved by the crank from its full-line to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noticed that the steam-inlet port b is located so as to be partially opened when the spring m, or it may be the point 3 of the abutment, is brought in contact with the arm or piston.

I claim- 1. In a rotary engine, the combination, with an abutment or cylinder having a re-entrant portion, b, of a piston-valve having an arm to enter the said re-entrant portion of the said cylinder, and a steam-inlet port located so as to be but partially opened when the point of the said re-entrant portion I) is brought. substantially in contact with the piston, and a cut-off mechanism, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination, with an abutment or cylinder having a re-entrant portion, 1), of a hollow piston-valve, at, having a piston, b, and provided with a port, b and an adjustable cut-off mechanism within the said piston or valve, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination, with an abutment or cylinder having a re-entrant portion, 1), of a hollow valve, a, having apiston, I), and provided with a port, I), and a segmental arm, I)", and sleeve I)", provided with the extension If, the said arm and extension being entered into said hollow valve, substantially as described.

4. The case or frame A, having the bearings a a extended into and outside of the said case or frame, combined with the cylinder at and hollow valve (0'', having shafts extended into and supported by said bearings, substantially as described.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination, with an abutment or cylinder having a re-entrant portion, b, of a piston-valve having an arm to enter the said re-entrant portion of the said cylinder to effect a minimum clearance, and an adjustable cut-oft mechanism within said piston-valve, substantially as described.

In testimony-whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE II. WESTON. Witnesses:

Jns. H. (Jenner-111m, J. G. SEARS. 

